Are Avocados High in Potassium?

As a superfood, avocado contains an array of vitamins and minerals, including a healthy portion of potassium. One cup of avocado has 727 mg of potassium, which is equivalent to a little more than 20% of the recommended daily value.

Potassium helps the body to perform many different functions, one of which is to help the body maintain proper hydration levels. Potassium works in conjunction with sodium in order to regulate the amount of fluid in our blood and body.

Low levels of potassium can be caused by heavy exercise, and may result in muscle cramping. High sodium or fat intake in the diet can cause potassium to be flushed from the body. People with high blood pressure are sensitive to potassium levels in the blood, and they should seek to get plenty of potassium in the food that they need.

Potassium can be found in a wide range of foods, including most fruits, vegetables, and meats. Bananas and fresh squeezed orange juice have an especially high potassium content, similar to avocados.

It is not recommended to take potassium tablets in order to supplement the diet because they are poorly absorbed by the body. It is much better to get your potassium from natural food sources, and it is not difficult to do because such a wide range of foods are high in the nutrient.

Photo: Shrimp Stuffed Avocado by James